30 trips before 30
When thinking of my 30 trips before 30, I was convinced I’d missed the proverbial boat.
With my birthday fast approaching, I felt I was one trip short of 30 and with the coronavirus pandemic it would be near impossible to rectify.
In a spontaneous pleasure pursuit on day one-hundred-and-I’ve-lost-
Curiosity got the better of me as I threw myself into listing my – hopefully – 30 trips before 30 at speed.
Being British, did Wales and Scotland count? Could I add my native England to the list? As I got nearer to the magic number – the big three “oh” – the list got messier and messier.
Nevertheless…drumroll please… I discovered I’d surpassed my retrospective target and visited 37 countries to date.
And so to mark my 30th year, I’d like to share my travel listography, not to be confused with “bragathon”, and take you with me on this treasured journey through time.
My 30 something Trips Before 30…
1. England
You may think this cheating, as England is my birth country, but I have loved exploring many parts of England so I am going to count it in my 30 trips before 30.
This includes forever getting to know my home city of London and falling in love with Brighton during my university years.
Then there were road trips to Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol as well as a family trip to Bath and a friend’s 30th birthday weekend in York.
Next on the travel wish list is Cornwall. Any tips?
2. France
As is common for us Brits, my first venture abroad was in neighbouring France as part of a school trip to Calais aged ten. We boarded the ferry from Dover in the morning and were back home in time for tea.
I’ve since had the chance to explore more of France including Paris, Alsace, Lille and Lake Annecy.
France also gave me my first ever interrail experience through Lyon, Avignon, Nice, Villefrance-sur-Mer and Marseille. Ooh La La.
3. Wales
For my first taste of an adventure holiday, I visited Maes Y Lade in the Welsh Brecon Beacons National Park aged 12.
We hiked, kayaked, abseiled and went caving – all for the very first time. Who knew I’d forever be seeking adventure holidays thereafter.
4. Netherlands
While my introduction to the Netherlands consisted only of dance competitions and sports halls, I have since been back many-a-time to hang out in the Dam.
Amsterdam is one of the few cities I keep returning to, while happily sacrificing a trip to somewhere new. I never tire of cycling the city and wandering its canals.
5. Germany
My first experience of Germany was in a little town to the west called Mönchengladbach, aged 13.
Although not top of everybody’s list, Mönchengladbach was an experience I will always remember when I stayed with a German family as part of a school exchange programme.
Three years ago, I returned to Germany to explore the Black Forest during a road trip from Brussels to Venice <3 What a beautiful place. I cannot recommend it enough.
Next on the list is Berlin. You feelin’ me?
6. Spain
Albeit number six on this chronological list, Spain is very special to me for many reasons.
Firstly, it marks my first family trip abroad to the island of Fuertaventura. Growing up, it was not until the age of 13 when I first reached the grand heights of a Ryanair flight.
As a single parent holiday, we enjoyed the convenience of a family resort with a simple self-catering chalet moments from the beach.
Spain also carved out a special place in my heart during my study year abroad at the Universidad Complutense De Madrid aged 21.
Living in Madrid, I was determined to experience as much of the country as possible and visited 14 towns and cities within the year.
This undoubtedly deepened my love for Spain and is the root of my wanderlust!
7. Greece
Another budget family holiday, this time aged 15 on the Greek island of Korfu.
Ever the beachgoer, my dad would hire a small electric boat and drive us to hidden shores. We would jump off the deck into the water and dance in the sea.
Other memories include marvelling at impressive sand sculptures and equally impressive carrot sculptures on my dinner plate.
In 2016, I was lucky enough to explore the capital of Athens when we visited the magnificent Acropolis.
8. Ireland
This next family holiday took us to Sligo on the west coast of Ireland.
A family of water babies, we took kayaks on the lake, went hiking in the mountains and even had a first attempt at surfing.
Surf babes in Ireland, who knew!
9. USA
I took my first long haul flight to the states aged 18.
We touched down in Chicago Illinois and travelled by coach through Indiana towards Dayton Ohio to compete in the international Winter Guard championships.
I’ve since returned to the states for my friend’s wedding in New Orleans Louisiana. This beautiful occasion also gave way to a road trip through Texas <3 in 2017.
10. Morocco
Bizarrely, I visited Morocco twice during my study year abroad in Madrid 2011.
Flights from Madrid to Marrakesh were super affordable and it appeared to be Spain’s travel trend at the time.
The colours, the sounds and smells felt otherworldly and the whole experience was mind blowing.
This was my first experience of a culture so different to mine, enrooting my love of travel.
11. Hungary
After graduating university, my friend Patrizia and I set off on a city break to Budapest in 2013.
Highlights include chilling at the famous Szechenyi Spa Baths, taking a boat trip along the Danube and visiting the beautiful Fisherman’s Bastion.
The food was hearty and the culture was surprisingly “outdoor” with lots of quirky terrace bars drenched in fairy lights.
12. Thailand
Thailand marked the beginning of my first backpacking trip. We landed in Bangkok where we were hit by the culture shock of Khao San Road before taking a tuk-tuk tour of the capital.
It was then onto Chiang Mai where I saw my first every elephant in the wild. We stopped off at the famous Silver Temple on route to Chiang Rai where we would take the slow boat to Laos.
On a second tour of Thailand in 2014, we visited its southern islands and ventured into the wild at Khao Yai National Park.
13. Laos
Laos really stole my heart and opened my eyes to the beautiful landscapes it has to offer, with the devastating aftermath of the Vietnam War ever present.
The country is full of beautiful mountains and waterfalls where you can swim, hike and play.
In its capital Vientiane, we were humbled by a visit to the COPE rehabilitation centre dedicated to helping victims of landmines.
And yet Laos has a peaceful and spiritual feel, with its lush mountains providing a backdrop even to its largest cities.
14. Vietnam
Wow, what can I say? What an extraordinary country, culture, history, georgraphy, gastronomy etc etc etc.
Vietnam was stop number three on my first backpacking trip through southeast Asia where we took sleeper trains along the coastline from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh.
We sailed around Halong Bay, swam with plankton in Hoi An, went sand sledding in Mũi Né, rode rollercoasters in Nha Trang and slept in futuristic pods in Ho Chi Minh.
During a return visit, I got to take part in an expedition through the Hang Sơn Đoòng caves. I cannot wait to share this experience with you in a blog post coming soon.
15. Cambodia
Last on our southeast Asia tour, but certainly not least. Cambodia also presents beautifully amid its rich and heartbreaking history.
Angkor Wat was a stand out part of our time in Cambodia where we stayed at a hostel within the temple grounds and cycled from temple to temple.
Visiting the Killing Fields was another profound experience, where more than one million Cambodians were murdered and buried by the Khmer Rouge.
16. Turkey
Perhaps another cheeky entry by yours truly, half way into my 30 trips before 30…
My first and only visit to Turkey thus far consists of a free day trip to the modern district of Istanbul. This whistle stop tour was offered to me by Turkish Airlines during my 16-hour layover at Istanbul Airport, flying from London to Singapore. Legends.
For just the cost of a day visa, we were taken by coach to the city centre where we toured the modern part of the city. We finished with an authentic Turkish lunch before returning to the airport for takeoff.
So there is such a thing as a free lunch!
Next on the list is Cappadocia. Any recommendations?
17. Singapore
Not a massive fan of modern cities, I didn’t have great expectations for Singapore. Yet its sparkling harbour and skyline certainly made for an impressive welcome.
Singapore marked the beginning of my second backpacking tour of southeast Asia which saw my return to some countries among the discovery of new ones in 2014.
While mega cities aren’t usually my bag, it was exciting to stand among so many skyscrapers and navigate our way through its bustling centre.
18. Malaysia
Malaysia was a pleasant surprise with lots of fun and rather random experiences.
Kuala Lumpur evokes memories of the Petronas Towers at midnight, chilli crab dinners and hot, sticky nights in cheap hostels.
This visit also brought a day trip to Batu Caves and a hunt for quirky street art in George Town, Penang.
19. Indonesia
You may already know I’m a big lover of Indonesia and with so many islands, it is the country that keeps on giving.
We flew into Indonesia to see the orangutans on the island of Sumatra which I massively recommend.
In between, we also discovered the stunning village of Bukit Lawang and couch surfed with a lovely family in Medan who showed us around their coconut farm.
Have you been to Sumatra? What’s your favourite place in Indonesia?
20. Myanmar
If you have not yet visited Myanmar, it is another top contender for the wild at heart.
Here, we got blasted with water guns in Mandalay, climbed temples in Bagan and went boating at Inle Lake.
A beautiful, beautiful place. Once home to George Orwell. So much left untouched.
21. Czech Republic
For Christmas 2014, my friend Patrizia and I jetted off on a city break to Prague. What a time to visit, with its magical Christmas markets, steaming hot pastries and fairytale architecture.
We toured the city by foot, visited its markets and ate lots of hearty stews.
A perfect weekend city break at Christmas time.
22. Belgium
Belgium is a country I have increasingly come to know over the years, albeit number 22 of my 30 trips before 30.
My first visit was to Brussels in 2015 where I immediately rushed to its famous Grand Place and stared up at the architecture.
I was also starry eyed after a tour of the EU headquarters thanks to my cheeky request to a friend.
Other Belgian holidays include kayaking the River Lesse, a road trip through Dinant and a girls’ weekend in Bruges where we gobbled on chocolate and drank lots of beer.
Going solo, I tagged on a trip to the medieval city of Ghent and a day trip to Antwerp for its gothic cathedral.
23. Scotland
To welcome in the year of 2016, my university friends and I drove from London to Edinburgh through the rain and snow.
Rather than taking the motorway, I opted for the path less travelled and less practical mind you!
We wound through the gorgeous Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines on our way to the Scottish capital where we settled into our quirky church conversion of an Airbnb.
The days were full of beautifully cold walks spent breathing into our scarves as we took in Edinburgh’s gorgeously gothic architecture.
Nighttimes were for rum and fireworks which we watched from North Bridge at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
24. Austria
My first impressions of Austria were formed during my road trip from Brussels to Venice in 2016.
We had a go on the toboggan at Brandauer Mountain and stopped off in Innsbruck at what must be the world’s most beautiful… McDonalds. Google it if you think I’m joking!
The following year, I got to see the Austrian mountains covered with snow during a ski trip to Saint Anton.
As the only newbie, I grappled with beginner lessons while my friends took on the black slopes.
25. Italy
Surprising Italy is rather late to feature in my 30 trips before 30, but it was well worth the wait!
Italy was the finish line of a road trip from Brussels to Venice in 2016.
We sailed Lake Como, romanced in Verona and rode gondolas in Venice where we stayed in a historic monastery.
Next on the wish list, Rome post coronavirus 2020. Any travel tips?
26. Switzerland
Continuing on our road trip from Belgium to Italy, we passed through beautiful Switzerland on the return leg.
Armed with a paper map in one hand and Google maps in the other, we stopped off in Lucerne before crashing at a Zurich hotel.
Lucerne’s famous Chapel Bridge really didn’t disappoint. We walked up and down its long wooden walkway framed by bright pink flowers and swans on the lake.
Lunch was the cheapest thing we could find – which was a task – on a terrace overlooking the water. The most expensive carbonara of my life but a girl’s gotta eat.
27. Uganda
I was invited to visit Uganda in 2016 by my friend Emily who worked with a fantastic charity in Jinja called Soft Power Education.
Uganda blew me away. The country and its people are so warm and bright. Lush green bush engulfs its terracotta dirt roads under beautiful clear skies.
Emily introduced us to her amazing team across Soft Power’s six educational sites before we travelled eastward on safari.
We saw tree climbing lions at Queen Elizabeth Park before spiralling into the mountains to visit the Pygmy tribe and track mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Back in Jinja, besides sipping on delicious smoothies at The Deli, we went white water rafting, visited the source of the Nile and stayed at the Hairy Lemon Island. Sadly, this simple yet stylish resort has since been flooded to make way for the Isimba Dam.
28. Zambia
In 2017, I spent three months volunteering as a team leader on a sustainable development project with Restless Development.
I supported a group of volunteers from Zambia and the UK to carry out humanitarian projects across the Chibombo district.
My first impressions of this beautiful country was wild and green. Lasting impressions are “community.”
In Kafalu village, I was supported by my wonderful host family. They helped integrate me into the community and educate me of their culture.
29. Croatia
A year on from Zambia, my friend Patrizia and I embarked on a ten-day tour of Croatia.
Our first stop was exploring the historic city of Dubrovnik where we walked the city walls, ate seafood by the marina and rode a cable car at sunset.
We then took a ferry to Split where we wandered its historic centre and took day trips to Krka Falls and Plitvice Lakes by coach.
Split also served as the perfect base for island hopping which we used to travel onto Brac, Hvar, and Pag.
30. Tanzania
Number 30 of my 30 trips before 30!
Mount Kilimanjaro pierced through the clouds upon my decent into Tanzania. It would be the first stop among many during a two-month overland trip through east and southern Africa in 2019.
In Tanzania, we rode motorbikes to the base of Mount Kilimajaro and camped by the foothills in the rain.
We had the most incredible safari experience at the Serengeti Ngorongoro Crater and took the ferry over to Zanzibar for some tropical beach chill time.
A massive tick within my 30 trips before 30.
31. Malawi
Okay we’ve surpassed the target, so here are my bonus trips to date!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Malawi was such a welcomed surprise for me.
I had low expectations of Malawi which I simply considered as a passthrough country between Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Yet in the end, some of my fondest memories were spent on the shores of Lake Malawi and hiking the Nyika Plateau.
Perhaps part of its magic stems from its quiet beauty and it being so underrated.
32. Mozambique
Unlike Malawi, Mozambique really was a passthrough country for us during our Africa overland trip of 2019. However this bears no reflection on the country itself, but simply our tight itinerary!
I cannot wait to truly explore Mozambique for its pristine beaches and infamous spice route.
But for now, the one special memory I have here is of bush camping on my 29th birthday. We pitched our tents on the side of the road, collected firewood and toasted marshmallows under the stars.
Then we stopped off for a fried chicken breakfast at 9am, just because, after crossing the Zimbabwean border!
33. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is another BIG one for me. Wow, wow, wow!
This magnificent country has faced a lot of political and economic hardships in recent years with ongoing crises. But with the right preparation, it is still accessible for tourists and well worth the trouble.
In a nutshell, my time in Zimbabwe was spent walking with lions, hiking in Chimanimani and riding the sleeper train to Victoria Falls.
Here we picnicked by the infamous waterfall, rode helicopters above it and went water rafting within it. If in doubt, check it out.
34. Botswana
Botswana for me was all about the water safaris in which I absolutely relished during our one-week tour while overlanding in 2019.
We took a boat during a river safari at Chobe National Park where we saw dozens of elephants and hippos playing in the water.
But the ultimate trip for me was an overnight stay at the Okavango Delta which is right up there among my top travel moments ever.
35. Namibia
Another favourite of mine…
Namibia is such a cool country to explore from top to bottom. It’s a great place for a longer adventurous holiday where you can explore independently or join a tour.
Our journey started at Rainbow River Lodge in the north where we camped overlooking the Cubango river.
Next we went on safari at Etosha National park where we watched rhinos and elephants drink at a watering hole by night.
We drove along Skeleton Coast and sandboarded in Swakopmund before a much anticipated visit to Dune 45 and Soussevlei.
Then it was onto a cheetah conservation park, hiking the Brandberg mountains and camping in the desert under pink and lilac skies.
36. South Africa
South Africa was full of surprises and will always hold a soft spot in my heart as the end to our incredible 2019 tour.
After crossing the border from Namibia via its Fish River Canyon, we sat down for a beautiful meal and wine tasting event at the gorgeous Highlanders wine farm.
Here we raised our glasses to the road behind us and to the road ahead and danced into the night amid the South African vineyards.
We explored Augrabies Falls National Park before finishing our trip in Cape Town where we hiked Table Mountain and hung out at the harbour. What a cool place.
37. Denmark
Last but not least, my wintry weekend in Copenhagen in January 2020.
This spontaneous city break, booked just days before stepping onto the plane, was the perfect escape to shake off those January blues. We wandered, cycled, and kayaked the city and tracked down its famous theme park.
Copenhagen has a really chilled and cosmopolitan vibe, with plenty of things to do.
Writing from lockdown, this last minute trip also reminds me of the importance of saying yes, despite everything.
Your 30 trips before 30…
If you’re a blogger yourself, or fancy a fun writing project, why not have a go yourself? List your 30 trips before 30.
Whatever your age, see how your travel history matches up to your number of birthdays thus far. Then track down a photograph, a keepsake or an online image for each one.
If you cannot match countries, try out cities instead or other experiences you have enjoyed. Happy time travelling!
Hope you enjoyed my 30 trips before 30.
Until next time,
I love this post!! It has definitely inspired me where to plan my next trips after Covid!
Author
Yes!! I’m so pleased <3 You should try writing a list for yourself too xx